Somalia: UN concerned by ceasefire in Somalia's Gaalkacyo state

Mogadishu, Somalia (PANA) - The United Nations office in Somalia said Monday it was "deeply concerned" by the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaalkacyo and the continuing failure of the Puntland and Galmudug administrations to implement agreements, including the one signed on 2 December 2015 and again on 1 November 2016.

Alarmed by the ongoing violence in Gaalkacyo, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Michael Keating, travelled to the Puntland city of Bossaso on Monday and met with Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali “Gaas”.

The visit followed a recent meeting in Mogadishu between the SRSG and Galmudug President Abdikarim Hussein Guled.

While in Bossaso, the SRSG and President Gaas held a teleconference with President Guled, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, the Commander of Puntland Forces General Said Mohamed Hersi and the Commander of Galmudug Forces Colonel Abdiaziz Abdullahi Qooje.

During that discussion, the two state presidents gave clear orders to their respective military commanders to reinstate the ceasefire with immediate effect, according to a statement issued by the office of the SRSG.

"These orders were accepted by General Said and Colonel Qooje in the presence of the Prime Minister and SRSG Keating," it said.

It was agreed that President Guled and President Gaas, the Prime Minister and the SRSG will travel to Gaalkacyo later this week for further discussions on implementing and monitoring the ceasefire, as well as to agree a plan to address key issues that must be resolved to secure lasting peace in Gaalkacyo.

Keating assured all parties that the international community and the United Nations stand ready to support a meaningful peace and reconciliation process.

Failure to implement the ceasefire and find a peaceful solution to the crisis will not only cause further suffering for the population of Gaalkacyo, but will also escalate tensions that extremists could exploit, he warned.

A successful resolution would foster a more positive dynamic between the two regional administrations and bring political as well as practical benefits for Somalia.

“I look forward to meeting community leaders in Gaalkacyo and working with the Prime Minister and the two state presidents in the coming days,” said SRSG Keating. “I remain confident that a lasting solution to this long running conflict can be found if all parties act in good faith."
-0- PANA AR 7Nov2016